Cloud9 vs 100 Thieves

This is what we've all been waiting for -- a bona fide clash of titans! Even though there's really nothing on the line, you can expect *both* teams to come out the gates swinging. They want to make a statement, and getting a win here would no doubt go a long way towards generating the winner ample amounts of hype and momentum for the forthcoming Spring Split.

Now it's all about sending a message.

100 Thieves are favored here for a reason, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to win. Far from it, in fact. Cloud9 still have three-fifths of their championship-winning roster, and Darshan and Isles -- while not exactly at their level -- are more than serviceable and will carry their fair share of the weight. Their 3W-0L record says it all: they're in sync, highly dangerous, and far more cohesive than most folks had expected coming into the tournament. They're not perfect, mind you, but that's not exactly a problem at this early point of the season -- no one's infallible, and that includes the defending champions 100 Thieves.

With that being said, the bookies have sided with Nadeshot's stylish organization and, well, it's easy to understand why: they're still the de facto best team in the LCS and did not make even a single change to their starting line-up coming into 2022. They *did* promote Tenacity, but we don't expect him to see any play time for as long as 100 Thieves are scheduled to go up against the "big dogs." And, frankly, it doesn't get much "bigger" than Cloud9 -- even with an "autofilled" mid laner.

This'll be an incredibly close affair. Of that you can be certain. These are some of the very best and most capable individuals who've ever played on the LCS stage. They know what needs to be done so as to emerge victorious, and will surely try their hardest from the very moment they spawn on the Rift.

We'll side with 100 Thieves as they're probably not going to make as many mistakes as the boys in black and blue but make no mistake: Cloud9 definitely have a puncher's chance. Either way, it's bound to be a spectacle!